“I know that sounds like a come-on, but I promise it isn’t,” Ariana said.
“Oh, it’s okay if it’s a come-on,” Kate said.
Nicole swung her head around and looked at her friend wide-eyed. “Kate!”
Ariana chuckled and waited.
Nicole reached for her purse, unlocked her phone and handed it to Ariana. “Put your number in there.”
When Ariana gave the phone back, Nicole hit the button to call Ariana’s phone. “There, now you have my number.”
“Thank you.” Ariana grinned. “Enjoy your night. It was nice to meet you, Kate.”
“You, too.” Kate gave her a little wave.
As Ariana walked away Kate bumped her shoulder to Nicole’s. “She was flirting with you.”
“What?” Nicole exclaimed. “No she wasn’t.”
“Yeah, she was,” Kate said. “Isn’t she gay?”
“Yes, but she’s a player.”
“Who cares if she sleeps around,” Kate said.
Nicole looked at her and smirked. “I didn’t meanthatkind of player. She’s abasketballplayer. We can’t date players,” she said. “Journalistic integrity.”
“So? Who said anything about dating her? She’s pretty and entertaining.”
Nicole glanced over her shoulder and saw Ariana out on the dance floor with her teammates. She couldn’t help but wonder if Ariana had shared the moment with her earlier at the game or if it was all in Nicole’s head.
“Hey, tomorrow is Saturday and you’re in town,” Kate said. “Want to have brunch with me and Emily in the morning?”
“Ah, I can’t,” Nicole said. “I’m doing this youth initiative with the WNBA. We’re playing basketball with kids in a neighborhood park.”
“Always working. Always basketball.”
Nicole grinned and finished her beer. “One more for me and my bestie, Stuart,” she called.
“Well, at least you’re staying for two beers tonight.”
Nicole chuckled and bumped her shoulder into Kate’s. She couldn’t keep from glancing over her shoulder one more time. When she did Ariana was looking her way and smiling.
Nicole nodded and turned back to her friend. Kate was right. Ariana was entertaining, but she was more than pretty. When she smiled like that Ariana Villa was beautiful.
Chapter Five
Ariana danced and celebrated their opening day win with her teammates. She only had one beer because she was anxious to get home and see how the team looked on the replay of the game.
One of the team’s assistant coaches would have already emailed Ariana the stats for the game. She liked to look at them as she watched the replay. In the morning another assistant coach would email her the team’s official film of the game.
It was no surprise that Ariana loved the game of basketball. She loved everything about it and in reality was a student of the game, not just a player. Her interest was in trends and the numbers. She was always looking to see what the team could improve. Some of those minute stats could give her insight that would help the team score a few more baskets during the game or prevent the other team from scoring.
Once Ariana got home, she changed into her favorite comfy shorts and a T-shirt. She took a bottle of water out of the fridge, grabbed her laptop, and settled on the couch. Before turning the TV on she thought back to running into Nicole Neal at the bar. She’d looked for her after the game, but when she went tothe commentators’ dressing room she and Shealyn were already gone.
Ariana’s fall onto the media table had been playing over and over in her head. When her momentum stopped she felt no pain. She opened her eyes and all she could see was Nicole. More specifically, she looked into Nicole’s caramel brown eyes and felt herself falling into the warm, soft expanse. For a moment Ariana thought she must have hit her head and was dreaming because the only sound she could hear was the beating of her own heart. Then she felt Nicole’s hand firmly holding her head in place and she knew she must not be hurt.
Suddenly that quiet moment of peace ended and she was right back in the arena. She couldn’t believe she landed in Nicole’s lap and was afraid she’d hurt her. Nicole’s concern was for Ariana and instead of thanking her, Ariana acted like an idiot with a wisecrack about retiring. She shook her head at the memory. Sometimes Ariana handled pressure with humor and in this instance she wished she would’ve simply thanked Nicole for catching her.
